"M-Mr. Jasper … I'm out!" Xavier huffed. The hotel was a tall building with a dozen flights of stairs. By the time Xavier reached the 38th floor, he was huffing and puffing. His legs went weak. He almost keeled over. "Be a man. We have two floors to go. Hurry," Jasper urged emotionlessly as he continued to climb the stairs.He was 30 this year, only two years older than Xavier. He had been in the Peacekeeping Forces during his younger days. After retiring from the forces, he regularly worked out and practiced boxing. Thus, his stamina and tolerance were above average.He knew he could still do it even if he had to climb another 20 floors. After all, the night run in the forces was always more than 30 rounds on the field.Once they reached the 40th floor, Xavier sat on the stairs to catch his breath. Jasper shook his head at Xavier. "Nice to meet you, Mr. Jasper," said a man who approached Jasper with a professional smile. His eyes made him look young. It was hard to guess
Alyssa burst into laughter. Mia had no choice but to laugh too. Jasper frowned. "I'll take that, but there's no need to feel shy. I can make more of this painting. You can have it." Alyssa's words carried hints of mockery. Upon hearing that, Jasper's expression went stiff as he balled his fists."You went through so much to meet me. I bet it's not for some paintings. Let's cut to the chase." She didn't have time to beat around the bush with him."Honestly, I'm here for the issue regarding Gardner Group. I hope you can stop oppressing them. There's room for negotiations." Jasper's tone was low, but his gaze was formidable. "After all, it will only do you good in Solana City if you work with us.""Do you call this an oppression, Mr. Jasper?" Alyssa was at a loss for words."I think it is an action of justice to reveal the underhanded sellers. It will be a wake-up call to our peers so that no one will repeat the mistakes that we did. They won't purchase products of bad quality and
Alyssa returned to her office.Mia approached her with wobbly legs. "I-I was so scared! Mr. Jasper is so good-looking! And there's this powerful presence about him! My cheeks were burning the moment I met him. D-Did I do well, Ms. Alyssa?""You did great." Alyssa handed her an envelope. "Take it. You've earned it.""T-Thank you, Ms. Alyssa!" Mia took the envelope and was surprised by its thickness.Just then, Sean handed her a document. It was a confidentiality agreement."I know you're trustworthy, but I think it's better to have an agreement for both parties' sake." Alyssa smiled faintly.She continued, "Everything that happened today must remain between us. Unless I reveal it myself, sharing this conversation with a third party would be a breach of the agreement. I will get to the bottom of it."Feeling overwhelmed by the gravity of the situation, Mia nodded and signed the papers. She promised to keep it a secret before leaving the office."The rumor has it that Jasper is a
The truth was, Jasper not only failed to experience true love, but he also felt increasingly helpless in this relationship.A knock on the door interrupted his thoughts. Jasper responded, and Xavier entered the office with a document."I've looked into it, Mr. Jasper. KS World Hotel returned Elysian Home's products and terminated all collaborations with Gardner Group nine days ago. Taylor Group hadn't exposed the quality issue to the media at that time. It was more of the public's assumptions."Jasper knew the series of events that took place after that. Next, Liana announced their wedding and hired ghostwriters to attack Alice. Only then did Taylor Group expose Gardner Group for their quality issue, leading to the current crisis. Gritting his teeth, Jasper took an aspirin to alleviate the headache. His hands were shaking. "I heard there was a vice general manager named Michael at KS World Hotel. He received a huge sum from Gardner Group before Ms. Alyssa was appointed. She fo
Jasper returned to Seaview Manor, completely drenched. Rosie hurried over with a cloth, but he waved her away. He headed upstairs with a long face."W-What's wrong with him? Did someone offend him?" Rosie asked in concern. "You should comfort him later. He had been deceived," responded Xavier."Huh? He's sharp and smart, though. He had been deceived? Have you reported to the police? We have to call the cops." Rosie was surprised.Xavier shook his head. "It's … It's complicated. The police can't do anything about it. Fortunately, justice prevailed over evil.""I told him to download an anti-scammer app long ago. He just wouldn't listen. Look at him now. He's a victim."Xavier smiled bitterly at the thought of Jasper having finally met his match. It wouldn't have been this serious if it was money-related, but the liar made use of Jasper's pride!… A pale-faced Jasper headed upstairs. He appeared lifeless."Mr. Jasper, Ms. Gardner is here. Mr. Javier is asking for you. He's
"I told Ms. Gardner not to touch the box on the headboard because it's important to you." Rosie looked at the angry Liana ambiguously.Rosie intentionally mentioned how much Jasper cared about Alice's gift to provoke Liana into revealing the truth."I threw it away," Liana confessed angrily, just as Rosie had anticipated.Fury filled Jasper's eyes as he asked, "Where is it?" "Jasper, why do you care about a gift from Alice? You're divorced. I'm your fiancée. Have you considered my feelings when you cherish her gifts?" Her eyes became teary. Her acting was so natural, thanks to Sophia's teaching."I'm asking you. Where is it?" Jasper's tone turned cold, and he ignored her tears. Shocked, she forgot to keep up her act and stammered, "I-It's in the trash bin in the backyard …"Jasper ran to the backyard. He was drenched in the rain instantly. He rolled up his sleeves and searched through the trash bin for the box."Jasper! Stop! Look how filthy it is!" Liana yelled from the corr
Liana walked away, sobbing.The maids were gushing about her hysterics. Her visits never failed to end up with antics and her leaving the place with tears. They wondered if she deemed Seaview Manor as her personal playhouse.Jasper sat still on the couch. He stared at the jumble of cloth for a long time."Mr. Jasper, it's getting late. Here's some milk. You need to get some sleep." Rosie handed him a glass of warm milk. A heavy sigh escaped Rosie's lips as she gazed upon the ruined suit. "What a shame." Her words meant something deeper."The next time Lia stops by, keep an eye on her. Stop her from entering my room and study. Oh, and Alice's room too," Jasper instructed in a low voice."Don't worry. Your wish is my command. I will watch her every move," Rosie promised confidently.She then added, "Luckily, I locked Madam Alice's room. Otherwise, Ms. Gardner might have sneaked in and caused a mess.""Don't put it that way, Mrs. Rosie. Lia isn't that bad of a person. After all,
Gardner Group was on the verge of collapse. Not only did they fall from grace, but more than ten of Elysian Home's physical stores in Solana City were now deserted.Worst still, Jasper had decided not to help them out. If they did not come up with a solution soon, they would be done once the funding from Beckett Group ran out.Meanwhile, Taylor Group won the public's favor upon exposing the Gardners' true colors. After a long period of flying under the radar, KS World Hotel was finally gaining some attention."I've been doing as you asked. I've been keeping an eye on Michael ever since you fired him. As you'd expected, he has been in personal contact with Dylan. It happened not only once," reported Sean.Sean held Alyssa's hand as he manicured her nails. He exclaimed, "Everything is unfolding just as you predicted. You totally hit the bullseye. You know what he was thinking.""He embezzled the hotel's funding and conspired with Dylan behind our backs. I guess they have a deep bo
As subtle as Remy's expressions were, Jasper still noticed them. A slight twinkle flashed across his eyes. He did not have the time to continue entertaining Remy. He clenched his teeth, turned around, and started running toward Crater Mountain. Nevertheless, he had barely taken a few steps when gunshots were fired at his feet. Even so, Jasper kept his eyes fixed ahead and did not stop. Just then, another gunshot rang out. It wasn't until a bullet hit him in his right shoulder that the pain caused him to stumble. He almost fell to the ground but forced himself to stay on his feet. It was fortunate that he was shot in his right shoulder this time. After all, his left shoulder could not be injured any further. Otherwise, his left shoulder would be left in complete disability."If you take another step, the next shot will be in your left leg," Remy warned mockingly. Yet, his gaze was firm and fiery. "Jasper, I don't suppose you want to end up like your older brother, living in
A chill went down Jasper's spine. At that moment, staring down the barrel of the gun, one thought consumed him. It was the only thought that mattered—he had to stay alive to meet Alyssa!Jasper's mind raced. His gun was hidden under the driver's seat of his usual car, but today, he had taken a different sports car—one that wasn't equipped with a weapon. Panic gripped him for a split second before his instincts kicked in.The soldier within him stirred. Without warning, he jerked the steering wheel, ramming his car into Remy's.One of Remy's headlights was taken out and left rolling across the snow. All of a sudden, this prideful man was overwhelmed with anger. His eyes reddened with a strong sense of competitiveness, compelling him to pull the trigger. A shot rang out. The bullet sliced through the cold air, shattering Jasper's car window.From the very beginning, Remy hadn't intended to take Jasper's life. All Justin told him to do was to stop Jasper from meeting with Alys
"Jasper, you are such a jerk. If anything bad happens to Ms. Alyssa, you will surely regret it. You will live in regret your entire life!" Sean yelled. …The temperature tonight was -4 degrees Fahrenheit. The snowstorm in the woods on the mountain was getting stronger and stronger. The winds were freezing and bone-piercing as they blew against Alyssa's face. Trees swayed dramatically in the screeching winds, creating an inexplicable creepy atmosphere that added a feeling of desolation to Alyssa's sorrowful and depressive mood. She braved the bone-piercing winds and faced the heavy snowfall. With the help of her trekking pole, she plodded forward one step at a time. She did not have a destination in mind. She did not know where she was heading. Her heart had shattered, and she was beside herself. The decreasing temperatures discouraged her and made her lose all her motivation. For someone who had lost their willpower, being in the woods under extreme weather conditions wa
"Mr. Jasper, why do you say so?" Sheryl lifted her head and looked into Jasper's reddened eyes. She furrowed her brows and laughed out loud. "White Dove is from Solana City. This is also something that I wasn't able to predict. If I had known, I wouldn't have gotten you to make a trip here in vain, would I?" Sheryl was no longer that conniving bitch who used to act coy. Now, she had a powerful person backing her up. Jasper's violent rage did not scare her at all. "Why the hell didn't you say anything earlier?" Xavier marched forward furiously. He was even more inclined to serve her a slap. "Did you know that Mr. Beckett had an important date with Madam today? He only rushed her because of your stupid lead! Right now, you're telling us that White Dove isn't in Skydon but Solana City? What the heck are you scheming? Were you trying to ruin Mr. Beckett and Madam's date intentionally?" "Madam? Haven't Mr. Jasper and Ms. Alyssa broken up? Is it right for you to be referring to her
The skies started to turn dark. Alyssa's dark hair was covered in a layer of snow. As she stood alone at the foot of the majestic mountain, she looked tiny, fragile, and desolate. "Ms. Alyssa, it's snowing. Heavy snowfall is forecasted tonight." Elias walked to Alyssa's side. Noticing the redness on her face due to the cold and the dull look in her eyes, he had a moment of realization. He couldn't help but feel a wave of sadness within him. "It's getting late. I suppose something came up for Mr. Beckett, and he's unable to make it." "Why didn't he inform me if that is the case?" Alyssa mumbled in a low voice as she gazed toward the darkness. She choked back on her tears so softly that her grievance couldn't really be heard through her voice. Elias slapped himself on his forehead. "Ah, perhaps you didn't manage to receive Mr. Beckett's message? The reception at the foot of the mountain isn't quite stable. You might have missed it. Would you like to come to my office? You'l
Jasper held his breath. It felt as if his legs had been chained together. He was unable to move. Looking at a stiff Jasper from behind, Xavier noticed his shoulders trembling slightly. An ominous feeling rose within him. "What did you say?" Jasper questioned. He sounded as if he was forcing himself to hold himself back from getting emotional. "Mr. Justin once mentioned that you were saved by a female doctor when you were badly wounded on the battlefield many years ago. I heard that you have been searching for her and that you've been grateful toward her." Jasper's back stiffened up. He narrowed his eyes and asked in a frosty voice, "This is a private matter. Why would Justin have told you about it?" "Mr. Justin mentioned it to me because I also used to work as a doctor in Luminara. He was hoping that I could help with finding that woman. "I finally have news on her whereabouts now. Mr. Jasper, don't you want to see the White Dove again? She was the person who gave her all t
That night, Alyssa stayed in the presidential suite of Solana City's KS World Hotel. She couldn't bring herself to return to her own manor—not yet. The lingering memories of her breakup with Jasper were still too raw, and the thought of revisiting their former home felt like reopening an unhealed wound.The following morning, she was awakened by a knock at the door. Groggily, she slipped on her night robe and opened it to find Sean standing there, carrying a complete set of brand-new hiking gear.Alyssa smiled. "Thank you, Sean." "Ms. Alyssa, it's freezing today. Are you sure you want to go hiking?" Sean walked into the living room and placed the items neatly on the couch. He still felt somewhat worried. "It's alright if it's cold, as long as the weather is good."Alyssa gazed out the window. The sun was shining brightly. The thought of going hiking with Jasper today made it impossible for her to conceal the sweet smile on her face and the delight in her eyes. She still love
Remy's eyes were bloodshot; his expression twisted with disgust as he stared at Sheryl. He could hardly fathom how someone so deranged and vile had once been close to Jasper. Even if Jasper and Alyssa had separated, Sheryl was nowhere near worthy of Jasper's side; she was not even fit to be the dirt on Alyssa's shoes.A sudden flash of memory struck him—the image of Alyssa during that traffic accident. He recalled her mustering all her strength to crawl out of her wrecked car, her face bloody, her body broken yet defiant. He had never seen such a fierce spirit in a woman before.His heart pounded uncontrollably, the memory triggering a sharp pain in his temples. Remy closed his eyes, gasping for breath.Sheryl broke into wild, unhinged laughter. Her entire body shook as she spat out her words, "Oh, Jasper, you poor, clueless fool!"If he ever discovers that the woman he's been tormenting all this time is actually his savior—the one he's been desperate to repay—that would be an eart
Sheryl's eyes lit up. "And what might that reason be?"Justin's lips curved into a faint smirk, his voice calm yet carrying a cold, ethereal tone. "Besides Ms. Alyssa, there's another woman who holds great significance to Jasper. She's the only one who can compel him to act without hesitation." Remy, usually a man of few words, abruptly spoke up. "Is she the one you've mentioned before? The woman who saved Jasper on the battlefield?""After Jasper retired from the military, he was plagued by PTSD. He came back shattered, dispirited, even on the brink of taking his own life."During that time, I often spoke with him over the phone, urging him to hold on, to keep living. I reminded him that if I could endure this half-disabled existence, then surely, he could find a reason to go on."Justin's tone was leisurely, as though recounting something insignificant. He continued, "I told him that if he were gone, what would become of Beckett Group? More than that, he would leave Dad and G